US World Cup Qualifier is Tonight at Dick's Sporting Goods Park!

COMMERCE CITY CO — The Colorado Rapids will host the first-ever World Cup Qualifier ever played in the state of Colorado on Wednesday November 19th at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

The match will feature the US Men's National Team vs. Guatemala in a battle to claim spots in the road to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The match kicks off at 6:00pm MT and will be televised live on both ESPN Classic and Galavision.

All fans are reminded to WEAR RED to the match!

Fans and supporters groups are also invited to attend a special pregame tailgate which will be held starting at 2:00pm in the VIP West Parking Lot (just south of the stadium Cantina). The Nike Snake Pit will be set up there as part of the festivities and the lot will open early to accomodate pregame tailgating.

Tickets for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s November 19 FIFA World Cup qualifier vs. Guatemala at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park went on sale to the general public at 10am MT on Wednesday September 10.

Colorado Rapids full season ticket holders who renewed their season tickets for 2009 as well as Rapids partial season ticket holders who upgraded to full season tickets for 2009 on or before the deadline of Sept. 4 of this year all get to attend this US game for free.

This will be the sixth and final match for the U.S. in the semifinal round of qualifying that takes place from August to November.

"We are very excited about bringing the U.S. National Team to Dick's Sporting Goods Park for the first-ever World Cup qualifier in the state of Colorado said Bob Bradley Head Coach of the US Men's National Team.

"The stadium and the surrounding complex is one of the finest soccer facilities in the country and it seems appropriate that with the merging of youth amateur and professional soccer that takes place at Dick's Sporting Goods Park the great fans in Colorado will have the opportunity to see many of the potential future stars of the U.S. National Team."

Tickets ranging in price levels from $30 to $95 are now available online at TicketHorse.com by clicking here by phone at 1-866-461-6556 at the ticket kiosks in all Dick’s Sporting Goods retail locations in Colorado and at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park ticket office (open Monday-Friday 10 am to 6 pm; Saturday 10 am to 3 pm).

Groups of 20 or more can obtain a group order form at ussoccer.com or by calling 312-528-1290. Ultimate Fan Tickets a special VIP package which includes a premium ticket a custom made official U.S. national team jersey with your name and number VIP access to the field before and after the game and other unique benefits are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.

While Colorado has only held three matches involving the U.S. men they have provided enthusiastic and substantial support each time. The USA are 2-1-0 in Denver the most recent match coming in one of the team’s final preparation matches before their historic quarterfinal run in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

On April 3 2002 a strike by ex-Rapids player Clint Mathis secured a 1-0 US victory against Mexico before 48476 fans foreshadowing the USA’s 2-0 victory against their regional rivals in the Round of 16 of the World Cup in Korea that summer.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park will host the team’s first match in Colorado taking place outside of Denver and their first qualifier ever in the Rocky Mountain State.

The U.S. currently sit in first place of Group 1 in the Semifinal Round. In this round there are three groups of four teams each and the top two teams from each group will advance to the Final Round of qualifying that will be held in 2009.